Calgary Flames News: Regular Season and Preseason Updates

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2/25/15: Calgary continues to play strong and make a push for the playoffs either as with a guaranteed spot or as a wild card. They are going through a little bit of adversity right now - this is the first time in years that they have been in a playoff battle - and they have a couple players out. Paul Byron is on the injured reserve and Matt Stajan left the team for a few days for the birth of his son. Calgary will now get a good look at 2013 first round pick Emile Poirer. Poirer leads the AHL Adirondack Flames with 14 goals and 30 points this season, and now he has a chance to impress the big club and maybe stick around.

2/18/15: The Calgary Flames continue to put up a fight and refuse to go away. Their tremendous start to the season is paying off these days as it is allowing them to keep in the playoff hunt, despite being average since the All Star Break. Currently, they are battling with the surging Minnesota Wild for the second wild card spot and were able to keep a one point lead on the Wild by defeating the Vancouver Canucks last Saturday, which actually put the Flames and Canucks in a tie with 65 points, the Vancouver has one game in hand. Calgary gets a chance to hurt the Wild tonight at home, followed by Anaheim on Friday.

2/11/15: The Calgary Flames keep defying the odds this season. Six months ago, no one had the Flames pegged as a playoff team, and for very good reasons. They are young, but old. They do not have an elite goaltender. And the Western Conference is simply too good. With only 30 games left in the regular season, the Flames are in second in the Pacific Division and control their playoff destiny. Shutting down the San Jose Sharks 3-1 helped a lot, and served notice to the rest of the West that Calgary intends to be playing well into May. Meanwhile, the L.A. Kings continue to struggle and may not have a chance to defend their title.

2/5/15: So many of the hockey experts out there are waiting for the Calgary Flames to finally come back down to earth and get themselves out of the playoff discussion. Well, the season is more than halfway completed and the Flames are showing no signs of backing down. If anything, the Flames may be heating up. They have a +13 goal differential, which is tied with Anaheim for best in the Pacific Division and their schedule skews toward home games for the rest of the season. This week will be very telling as the Flames host the Sharks tonight and Pittsburgh on Friday, before heading to San Jose to see the Sharks again on Monday.

1/28/15: Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has the nickname Johnny Hockey, a play on Cleveland Browns QB Johnny Manziel's Johnny Football. The major difference, aside from the sport, is that Johnny Hockey is actually good in the professional ranks. Gaudreau, as a rookie, is among the team leaders in points and was added to the NHL All Star Game last Sunday. The Flames have been a surprise team this season, and currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They have some competition with the Kings and Colorado to keep that spot, but have a great chance of returning to the postseason this year.

1/21/15: Perhaps Calgary got that slump out of their system because they have been playing pretty well lately. The team has been riding the hot play of newcomer Joni Ortio lately and that is paying off in the standings. Calgary got off to a very hot start but faded in December. However, their strong play of late has them in the playoff discussion. They are battling the Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card spot right now, but the Kings have had some big injuries lately, and that may be the small crack that the Flames need to overtake LA and finally get back to the playoffs.

1/14/15: The Flames have been slipping in the Pacific Division for the past month or so, and a good deal of that can be put on the goaltending. But they got a boost last Saturday when unknown goalie Joni Ortio stepped up for a 1-0 shutout at Vancouver. Ortio came up huge in the game, saving all 36 shots for his first career shutout. It also snapped an eight game losing streak in Vancouver that stretched back to December of 2011. The win keeps the Flames within shouting distance of LA, San Jose and Vancouver for a guaranteed playoff spot.

1/7/15: The Flames started out the year red hot and even controlled the second place in the Pacific Division for a while. Calgary has cooled off since then and is back to being in the middle of the pack in the division, which is pretty much were they were expected to be all along. However, despite the disappointing December, rookie forward Johnny Gaudreau stayed hot and earned Rookie of the Month honors from the NHL for December. He led all rookies with eight goals and 13 points in 14 games, and that included a hat trick on December 22. Congratulations, Johnny, there are a lot of good rookies this season and he may be the best forward of all of them.

12/3/14: It is often hard to find news about the Calgary Flames, which is understandable considering their remote Western Canada location and the fact that they simply have not been very good over the past several years. That is changing and people are taking notice. The Flames are trying to prove that their hot start is not a fluke and are only one point out of first place in the Pacific Division (behind Vancouver and Anaheim). Goalie Karri Ramo has been playing very well and even earned one of the NHL's Three Stars for his fine play last week.

11/19/14: The Calgary Flames continue to be a pleasant surprise this season (well, maybe not if you are a Kings or Sharks fan). Through 18 games, they amassed a respectable 10-6-2 record, good for third place in the Pacific Division (and ahead of the aforementioned Kings and Sharks). So that means that the Flames are trusting head coach Bob Hartley and General Manager Brad Treliving is working on giving him an extension. Hartley is in the final season of his contract, but the Flames have shown great improvement this season, so it makes sense to go with the hot hand.

11/12/14: Calgary is not supposed to amaze and surprise. They are supposed to be one of the cellar-dwellers in the Pacific Division. But don't tell that to the team. They are tied for second place in the Pacific Division with an impressive 20 points (though Vancouver has played one less game). The Flames 9-5-2 star is not a fluke. They are scoring over 3 goals per game, though allowing quite a bit too. If they can get their defense to catch up with the offense, then this could be a great team this season. Calgary is on a home stand with Arizona, Ottawa, Anaheim and Chicago all coming to town over the next eight days.

11/5/14: The season is still young, but the Calgary Flames are more than holding their own so far. Despite losing to Montreal in a shootout (no shame in that, considering Montreal has the most points in the NHL), The Flames still have a positive record. They were mocked a few years ago for not scrapping the team and rebuilding like the rival Edmonton Oilers. Instead, their piecemeal approach is working out pretty well. The big question is if they can keep it up. One good sign is that they have outscored their opponents overall, and that is a formula to get into the playoffs.

10/29/14: Not much is being written about the Calgary Flames these days, but maybe that should change. The Flames, after last Saturday, are tied for second in the Pacific Division and tied for third in the Western Conference (with Los Angeles) at 11 points. Calgary is 5-4-1 and has 26 goals this season. It should be noted that they have played 10 games, most in the West, but that is still much better than in years past. The Flames have a two tough home games this week with Montreal and Nashville visiting, and neither team is losing much this season.

10/22/14: Through five games of the regular season, the Calgary Flames are surprising a few teams and winning games. Coming off of a 4-1 road loss to the St. Louis Blues, the Flames rebounded nicely and shocked the Blackhawks in Chicago in overtime 2-1. This may not have been so much a Flames win as a Jonas Hiller win. Hiller stopped 49 of 50 shots (which leads to questions about the defense, but that is another story) to earn the win. Hiller signed a two year deal for $9 million with Calgary in the offseason for this exact reason. Teams are only as good as their goaltending, and a .995 save percentage is worth the money.

10/15/14: There was concern that Flames' top prospect Sam Bennett was playing hurt, which actually drew admiration from his coach. Now we know how hurt he is. Bennett will undergo surgery on his shoulder this week and is expected to miss four to six months. That would put him out until February to April. The injury dates back to last season when he was in the OHL. In the meantime, the Flames move on without him, and are doing a good job with that. They scored three times in the third period in the season opener against the Edmonton Oilers to win 5-2.

10/8/14: Flames' first round pick Sam Bennett is doing everything he can to make the NHL roster as an 18 year old. And that includes playing through injuries, and reportedly not letting on how much pain he was in. He suffered his second injury of the preseason a couple of weeks ago and kept on playing, but was held out last Saturday. Head coach Bob Hartley seems impressed at his competitiveness, at least. The Flames will start their march back to respectability when they open the regular season at home against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, October 8th.

10/1/14: The Flames, as all Flames fan know, have been disappointing in the past few years. They are doing their best to rebuild the talent base in the organization - and having three first round picks in 2013 certainly helped that cause. They also have Johnny Gaudreau, who is trying to break into the NHL. Gaudreau has loads of raw talent and can be a deadly stick handler and scorer. Many may believe that he is 'too small', but the same has been said about stars like Theo Fluery and Pavel Bure. In any case, many believe that he has been the best forward in the Flames' camp so far this season.

9/24/14: Calgary Flames' General Manager Bob Hartley should have every reason to worry about keeping his job. He has new bosses and the team has not made the playoffs for several years. They are in a rebuilding mode and it would be a longshot if they are playing in the postseason this season. He is also in the last year of his contract and it has not been renewed. But Hartley is not worried. He is taking the positive and high road when asked about his future with the team. He has actually done a pretty good job. He does have a team that does not give up - and the Flames are improving with the moves that he has made.

9/17/14: Flames forward Curtis Glencross has been a good soldier through the years, even with Calgary being near the cellar of the standings for much of it. He has continuously taken less than market value to stay with the struggling franchise. He also has a nice no-trade clause. So naturally there are question on if he will waive his no-trade clause come trade deadline time if the Flames want to move him. For his part, Glencross says that it is too early to talk about such things. Of course, that assumes that the Flames are not going to be in contention this coming season, and the team has improved.

8/28/14: Calgary took another step in their rebuild and may have gotten a steal of a deal in doing so. The team announced that they came to a deal with free agent forward Devin Setoguchi. It is a one year, $750,000 deal that gives the Flames a little more scoring punch and gives Setoguchi a chance to bounce back from a disappointing season. Setoguchi has scored 20 goals or more three times in his career (with the San Jose Sharks). He could be a real strong and low price asset if he can regain his scoring touch.

8/21/14: By the end of next week, the whole saga may be over, but for now, the Calgary Flames are keeping tight-lipped about their interest in former Chicago Blackhawks first round pick Kevin Hayes. The Hawks selected him with the 24th overall pick in 2010, but never signed him. The four year signing period is over so Hayes is a free agent. Hayes reportedly does not want to sign with Chicago because he would have limited opportunity to make the team and play. He likely would get that type of chance in Calgary, who is in need of young offensive talent. Until everything is official, though, the Flames are not saying anything.

8/14/14: There is no question that the Calgary Flames still face an uphill battle in their quest to make the playoffs in the hypercompetitive Western Conference in the NHL. One player who may be under some extra pressure this season is former top prospect Sven Baertschi. He was an offensive machine when he came out of the minors, but has struggled at the NHL level. He has split time between Calgary and the minors for the past few seasons and has not made a major impact. However, he is only 21 years old. While Flames' boss Brian Burke has been critical of him, it seems to soon to give up on a budding talent like his.

8/7/14: The Calgary Flames may not have the lore and tradition of long standing NHL blueblood teams like the Montreal Canadiens or Toronto Maple Leafs, but they do have a pretty strong history, including a Stanley Cup. Some of their great players include Lanny McDonald, Al MacInnis and Mike Vernon. But none of those players has the fans' love like Jerome Ignila, who was recently deeded by the greatest player in Flames' history. He holds the franchise record for games played (1,219), goals (525) and points (1,095). It is hard to argue with those credentials, and Iginla is likely to be a first ballot hall of famer whenever he decides to hand up the skates.

7/31/14: Calgary rushed into signing their first round pick last year, and that paid off as Sean Monihan had a terrific rookie season. He was so good that the team simply could not send him to the minors after his NHL grace period expired. They have claimed that they were in no rush to sign this year's first round pick, Sam Bennett, but did so anyway. Bennett should be in training camp after signing a three year entry level contract. Bennett is a highly skilled center that had 36 goals and 91 points (and 118 penalty minutes) in 57 games in the OHL. While those numbers probably will not be replicated in the NHL, he should add a new scoring dimension to the Flames whenever he gets his chance to play.

7/24/14: The Flames rebuilding has gone much better than their Alberta rival Oilers, which is surprising because the Oilers had so many top picks over the past five years. Calgary, by comparison, was considered old and expensive, but has done a decent job of getting younger over the past two years. One potential new face is forward Johnny Gaudreau. He is a scorer. He posted 36 goals and 80 points in 40 games last season at Boston College, and could be that sniper that the team has been missing since trading Jerome Iginla a few years ago.

7/17/14: Last year, the Flames wasted very little time in signing their first pick Sean Monahan. Monahan rewarded them with an outstanding rookie season and proved to be too good to send to minors when the Flames had the chance. They are taking a different approach this year with fourth overall pick Sam Bennett. They want Bennett signed and ready to go for training camp, but have not put his contract into fast track mode. There really is no rush right now as there are still a few more weeks until camp opens up. They just hope Bennett can adjust to the NHL as well as Monahan and be an instant contributor.

7/10/14: The rebuilding of the Calgary Flames seems to be going better and quicker than expected. While the team was among the lower ranking squads in the NHL last season, they did play pretty well toward the end of the year and there is a lot of optimism heading into the 2014-15 season. To bolster than, the Flames signed goalie Jonas Hiller to a two year deal for $9 million. Hiller has been a quality goalie throughout his career and started off well last season. But injuries caught up with him and he struggled in the second half. The Anaheim Ducks let him walk, and that could be a big gain for the Calgary Flames.

7/3/14: Calgary made another move to return to being competitive in the Western Conference by trading for Brandon Bollig. Bollig has been one of the gritty and tough wingers for the Chicago Blackhawks for the past few years. He is not going to score a lot of goals or make a lot of pretty plays. But he will battle for pucks in the corner and make life tough on opposing defensemen. In return, the Flames sent the Hawks the 83rd pick in the NHL draft, which Chicago used to sellect Matheson Iacopelli. Bollig does not cost much either. He has three years left on his contract with a cap hit of $1.25 million.

6/26/14: This is not meant to be a knock against Calgary, but the team has a tough time drawing free agent. Perhaps it is the organization or perhaps it is because Calgary, a beautiful city, is not considered as metropolitan or trendy as LA, Chicago or New York. That means that the team is somewhat limited in who they can draw in as free agents. The other option is rebuilding through the draft, and Calgary has had a couple of nice drafts over the past few years. The team invited top draft prospects from this year's class in for a visit. The Flames have the fourth pick, so this was a good chance to spend time with them and show them the facilities.

6/19/14: The Flames could use a top center on their team - of course there are few teams out there that do not need to fill that position - and are taking an active role in trying to land such a player. They have made a bid for a trade with the Ottawa Senators for Jason Spezza. Spezza has requested a trade and wants to get out of the Canadian capital city, where, many say, he feels he shoulders too much blame for any Senators failings. Unfortunately for the Flames, Spezza has reportedly listed Calgary (along with Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver) as teams he will not go to.

6/12/14: Craig Conroy was a good, if not savvy player during his time in the NHL, and the Flames are hoping for the same kind of results from him now that he has been promoted to assistant General Manager of the team. The Flames also promoted Brad Pascall to an assistant GM position, meaning the AGMs as well asl the senior VP will report to new General Manager Brad Treliving. President Brian Burke also made the comment that the Rangers are not 'big and ugly enough' to beat the Kings in the Stanley Cup, and that is the type of team he wants.

6/6/14: It is National Spelling Bee time in America so time to check your abilities and be shamed by 12 year olds. An article in the Wall Street Journal ranked the most misspelled names in online and print articles, and Calgary Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff came in second place. The most common misspelling was with one 'i' in Miikka. The number one misspelled name was Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, with Mark Buehrle, Skylar Diggins, and Agnieszka Radwanska rounding out the top five. Amazingly, Coyotes goalie Mike Smith did not make the list, nor did former football great Jim Brown.

5/29/14: Despite a very disappointing 2013-14 season, the Calgary Flames are not as bad off as one may imagine. Calgary did some smart things in the 2012-13 season by trading off high-priced veterans from that sinking ship. They ended up with three first round picks last year. They were also better than their record indicated. The Flames have the fourth overall pick in the NHL draft next month, and there is no telling what they may do with it. Defense is a place of need, so Calgary may be willing to deal their fourth overall pick to the Florida Panthers to select a top defensive prospect like Aaron Ekblad.

5/22/14: There is some new anticipation growing in Calgary, even on the heels of a lackluster season that saw the team miss the playoffs again. No, this does not refer to the Flames announcing the Adirondack Flames as their AHL affiliate - a story that somehow did not trend on social media. Calgary signed German league star David Wolf to a one year deal. He is a big guy that can score, netting 40 points in 48 games. He also racked up a whopping 152 minutes in penalties to lead the league in that category. This could be a good move for Calgary as they try to compete in the hyper-competitive Western Conference.

5/15/14: At the top of the 'to do' list for the Calgary Flames was hiring a new general manager to replace Jay Feester. Granted there are a lot of other items to clear up, but getting a GM in charge of the organization has to be at the top, and president Brian Burke steadfastedly stated that he would not be the one to do it. Burke was true to his word and hired Brad Treliving as the new GM. He has a big laundry list ahead of him, because it will be no easy or short term task to turn this team back into a winning organization.

5/8/14: Tops on the list of the Calgary Flames' rebuild this summer was finding a new general manager. President Brian Burke fired former GM Jay Feaster a few months ago. Many speculated that Burke would take control of hockey operations, an assertion that he steadfastedly refused. He was as good as his word and announced the hired Brad Treliving as the new GM in charge of rebuilding this once-proud franchise. That is not surprising, though. Anyone that knows Burke knows that he does not want that job anymore, and this is a good step towards as fresh start.

5/1/14: It was only a year ago or so that most hockey experts figured that the Edmonton Oilers were on the rise while the Calgary Flames were in demise. Edmonton seemed to make a lot of good development moves, but there has been no tangible, positive effect on the ice. Meanwhile, the Flames actually look to be in pretty good shape. When the draft rolls around in June, they may be looking at center Sam Bennet or center Leon Draisaitl. The Flames took center Sean Monahan last year, and he had a great rookie season. There are other holes on the team, but the Flames may just take the best player available.

4/24/14: The Flames are still an organization seeking an identity. For several years, they loaded up on big salaried veterans trying to make one last push for the Stanley Cup. They finally admitted that was not working and said they were rebuilding. They shipped off stars such as Jerome Iginla (Boston Bruins) and Jay Boumeester (St. Louis Blues) and got a lot of draft picks back. The Flames fired GM Jay Feester midway through this season, but are still looking for a GM to finish the rebuild. There are a few talented assistant GMs out there, but president Brian Burke must make a decision soon to prepare for the June draft.

4/17/14: Expectations for the Calgary Flames were pretty low going into the season. Those that follow the team and the NHL understood that this was the beginning of a rebuilding effort for the franchise, as the past few seasons of trying to get by with a makeshift roster of cast-offs was not working. One strong development for the team was the emergence of goalie Karri Ramo. He was acquired two seasons ago as part of a bigger trade, but now seems to have a firm grip on the number one goalie position. That is a major development for the team, as finding a franchise goaltender is essential to winning in the NHL.

4/10/14: It is shaping up to be a big week for Flames rookie Kenny Agostino. He was called up recently to help the team finish out the string, get some ice time at the NHL level, and allow the coaching staff and front office to evaluate his play on the highest levels. That bodes well for him making the team next season as a full time player. He recorded his first NHL goal last week. A rebound past Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers. Then he got to play in front of his home town as the Flames were in New Jersey. Not a bad time for the youngster from Flanders, and certainly a couple of weeks that he will never forget.

4/3/14: When a team is out of the playoff chase and can really only play out the string, the prudent thing to do is bring up youngsters and see what they can do at the highest levels of competition. That is exactly what the Flames are doing these days, which gives them a head start into next season. Calgary recalled Chad Billins and signed Bryce Van Brabant to an entry-level contract. Van Brabant could be an interesting player in the future. He a a big guy that plays a rugged game. Billins, however, is an undersized defenseman who brings speed to the table.

3/27/14: The Flames knew this would be a transition year and admitted as much earlier in the season. They are stuck between a roster that is full of aging veterans or undeveloped youth. Calgary will not be in the playoffs this season and is trying to avoid being last in the Western Conference. So this is the time when it is appropriate to shut down veterans and give youth a chance. The Flames have announced that defenseman Dennis Wideman will be done for the remainder of the season. On the other hand, they are bringing back leading point scorer Jiri Hudler.

3/20/14: The Flames were not expected to be a playoff team this season and they have lived down to that billing. While they will be on the golf course in a few weeks, they are still making life difficult for anyone that has to play them. Some people may say they are hurting their chances in the draft lottery, but players and coaches see it differently. The Flames are in a rebuilding mode and are teaching their youngsters to keep battling despite the record. That bodes well for the future, especially since they had three first round draft picks last year and need to establish the proper professionalism.

3/13/14: Flames' president of hockey operations and acting general manager Brian Burke is stealing focus from his team, again, with his comments. Burke is known for being outspoken, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. He says that while he is the acting GM today (after firing Jay Feaster a few months ago), he will not keep the role next season. He also says that the Flames need upgrades on both the offense and defense. Well, that only accounts for all but two players on the roster. Calgary may be in better shape going forward than many imagine, as they are well under the salary cap and can afford to take on a couple bigger contracts.

3/6/14: Calgary GM Brian Burke has been generating more headlines than his team has lately, though considering where the Flames are in the standings, that may not be such a bad thing. Burke recently commented on the use of a shootout to determine games tied after overtime. Like many traditionalists, he does not like it and considers it a 'circus stunt'. It does seem odd to decide a game by taking away many of the fundamentals that made the game great. On the other hand, it is dramatic and makes for great theater. And the game does not end in a tie.

2/27/14: With the Olympics concluding it is time to get back to the business of the NHL. Calgary sits on the outside looking in at the moment, but with the wildness of a typical NHL season, they are not out of the playoffs yet. Calgary had a few Olympians, but was not affected in the same way that St. Louis, Chicago or Toronto were. That means that their players have had two weeks to rest and heal and get ready for the stretch run of the regular season. They have some moral support from defenseman Kris Russell, who is ready to be with the Flames for two more years (or longer). He just got an extension from the team, and could develop into a top four blue-liner that helps the Flames get back to the playoffs.

2/20/14: If the number of Olympians a team has on their roster is an indication of how good the team is, then this helps explain why the Calgary Flames are near the bottom of the Western Conference. The Flames have only two Olympians (by comparison, the Blues had 10, plus a coach). Calgary players that are in Sochi for the Olympics are defenseman Ladislav Smid (Czech Republic) and goalie Reto Berra (Switzerland). The Czech team is not the same dominant squad from Olympics past, and the Swiss simply are not a strong team. But the Flames have some great young talent and may be better represented in the future.

2/13/14: The St. Louis Blues have done a very good job of identifying and developing talent for the past few years, and it shows now in the standings as they lead the Central Division heading into the Olympic break. One player they gave up on was Kris Russell. The Blues had hoped he would be in their defensive core for years but he struggled the past two years and the team traded him to Calgary last July for a fifth round pick. Russell has excelled with the flames and is averaging over 23 minutes per night and hit the 20 point mark already. The Flames signed him to a two year extension, meaning they have another defenseman locked up.

2/6/14: It is probably too late for the Flames to make a serious post-season run, though it is never too late for a coach to show that he has the team on the right path. The Flames have been on fire (please excuse the pun) of late, winning five games in a row. And these are some good teams including San Jose and Chicago. The team has responded, particularly since the dust up with Vancouver a few weeks ago that got Canucks' head coach John Tortorella suspended for six games. The Flames are showing that they can play with anyone, and that bodes very well for the future.

1/30/14: For the second time in two weeks, a team that has given up four goals to a player ended up winning the game. Two weeks ago, the San Jose Sharks overcame four goals by Lightning forward Martin St. Louis to win 5-4. This time is was Calgary's turn. Predators' forward Eric Nystrom netted four goals against the Flames, but Calgary kept themselves in the game, which went into overtime and then a shootout. Calgary ended up winning 5-4, meaning they shut down the entire Predators team except one guy. Nystrom was the fourth player to score four goals this season, along with St. Louis, Tyler Seguin, and Tomas Hertl.

1/23/14: Calgary and Vancouver got into a huge brawl to start their game last Saturday night. The Flames, for reasons yet unknown, started the game with their fourth line - generally the checking/goon line. Vancouver responded in kind with their fourth line and a brawl broke out at the opening faceoff. Eight players were ejected from the brawl and 152 minutes of penalties were assessed. Canucks' head coach John Tortorella was irate and tried to get into the Flames' locker room at the first intermission. The NHL will certainly look into this episode and suspensions may be forthcoming.

1/16/14: Calgary is a fiercely proud franchise. There was a time in the 80's and 90's that teams feared going to Alberta to play the Flames and Oilers in consecutive nights. Obviously, those days are long gone, but the Flames continue to rebuild and bring back the glory days. They were smart enough to hit the reset button last spring rather than continue to try to piece together a makeshift team that would finish middle of the pack. They do not have many stars on their team, but do have two Olympians - goalie Reto Berra is expected to backup Jonas Hiller for Switzerland and Ladislav Smid will play on the Czech defense.

1/9/14: In a shocking move, the Czech Republic National Olympic Hockey Team did not select forward Jiri Hudler for the Sochi Olympics. Hudler plays for the Calgary Flames, and is arguably their best offensive weapon, not to mention the third highest scoring Czech player in the NHL this season. At 30 years old, he 11 goals andd 22 assists for 33 points in 41 games, all while averaging over 19 minutes a game. He could not have been snubbed for being too old, the team went mostly with veterans, including 42 year old ex-NHL star Petr Nedved. Other NHLers were passed over as well, leading to the question of if the national team was intentionally snubbing those that left.

1/2/14: Calgary continues to languish toward the bottom of the Pacific Division, though the good news is that they are ahead of the rival Edmonton Oilers. Flames' fans know that scoring goals and generating sustained offense has been a problem. Heading into the new calendar, Calgary is under 100 goals to date - well below the average. The team called up Markus Granlund from AHL affiliate Abbotsford this past week in hopes of a spark. Granlund has put up a lot of points in the minors including 13 goals and 11 assists in 29 games this season, so hopefully he can provide some scoring and help out the team.

12/26/13: It did not have the big fanfare as the Jerome Iginla return to Calgary, but it was a bit significant when Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester made his way back to his former home. The Blues took an early 2-0 lead, and with that type of cushion and their lockdown defensive style, they should have been able to coast to victory. However, the Flames battled back and forced overtime at three goals apiece. Calgary then stole the two points by getting the overtime win and a bad loss for the Blues. That kind of play and win builds confidence in a rebuilding team.

12/19/13: The Flames just got some good news as star Rookie Sean Monahan returned to the team after missing over two weeks with a fractured foot. Monahan, selected sixth overall last June, has been one of the few bright spots this season. Calgary also fired GM Jay Feester and Brian Burke has taken over operations for now. With new leadership, the Canadian Junior team has asked the Flames, again, for permission for Monahan to join the Junior team. Calgary has declined that invitation, as they need Monahan now and not for him to play for someone else for a few weeks.

12/12/13: Calgary and Edmonton have been rivals for a long time. This year, the two teams have separated themselves from the rest of the pack - though not in a good way. They continue to battle to stay out of the cellar in the Western Conference. They have 21 wins between them. By comparison, the Anaheim Ducks lead the division with 20 wins. Even so, it is always good to beat a rival and the Flames were able to knock off the Oilers 2-1 in overtime last week to give themselves a three point edge over Edmonton in the standings.

12/5/13: As if the Flames do not have enough problems and injuries, news comes that they are going to be missing two key players for while. Veteran defenseman Dennis Wideman is out six to eight weeks with a fractured hand, while rookie sensation Sean Monahan has a hairline fracture on his foot and is considered week to week. Calgary has a struggled all year and has won only twice in their last ten games. Injuries to key players will not make it any easier on the Flames, though it does give them the opportunity to get some young prospects some NHL experience.

11/28/13: The Flames seem inclined to make deals as they continue to languish near the cellar of the Pacific Division. They already traded Tim Jackman to Anaheim and may be looking to make another move. According to reports, there are several teams interested in forward Mikael Backland. The team is open to trading the 24 year old, who was a first round pick in 2007. Backland only has two goals this season and has taken a back seat to rookie Sean Monahan. Since Calgary is rebuilding, it may be a good move for them to acquire prospects or draft picks.

11/21/13: The Flames, and everyone else, knew that this would be a tough season as the team has finally committed itself to rebuilding rather than trying to get by with patching in veterans with undeveloped players. Still, some losses sting more than others - particularly at the hands of the archrival. Calgary faced Edmonton with both teams trying to break five game losing streaks. Calgary started strong and took a 2-0 lead into the third period. Edmonton, however, posted four unanswered goals and came out with a 4-2 win. Now we will get to see what the Flames are made of as they try to bounce back from this latest loss.

11/14/13: The Calgary Flames released a statement earlier this week about charges facing prospect Brett Kulak. Kulak was selected by the Flames in the fourth round of the 2012 entry draft and plays in the Western Hockey League. Chargers were filed against Kulak and teammate Jackson Houck (an Edmonton Oilers prospect) stemming from an incident that occurred in August. Kulak was charged with assault and making threats. The Flames claim to support Kulak, though they do not condone his actions. Kulak is expected to be in court on November 20 for the next step in the legal process.

11/7/13: Many headlines in Calgary have started with "Flames fall to…" , and that trend continued with a 4-3 loss to the Red Wings, putting their record at 5-6-2 on the season. The Flames sit in sixth place in the Pacific Division and are ahead of only the rival Edmonton Oilers, who only have three wins. Calgary placed backup goaltender Joey MacDonald and called up Reto Berra. Berra is a young netminder that the Flames want to develop to possibly be the goalie of the future. MacDonald played well in the time he was in Calgary, but he was always intended to be a stop-gap goaltender while Berra developed.

10/31/13: The Calgary Flames made the tough decision to keep Sean Monahan on the team rather than send him back to juniors. Monahan was the sixth overall pick - and in professional basketball or football basically guarantees a starting position, but not in professional hockey. Monahan has been the Flames best player this year so it makes sense to keep him on the NHL roster. The argument against it is that they could delay the starting date on his contract for another year. The reality is that he is not going to improve in the juniors, so let him develop against the competition he should be playing against. Good call by the Flames.

10/24/13: Calgary has a big decision to make this week. The Flames selected Sean Monahan with the 6th overall pick in the June draft. If this were football or even basketball, he would likely be penciled in a starter. Hockey is different and usually draft picks are around 18 or 19 years old and will spend a few more years in college or juniors. That was the plan for Monahan, but he already has 8 points in his first seven NHL games. The Flames can keep him on the team for up to nine games before sending back down. After nine games he is a pro. While the Flames would like him to develop more, he may have shown enough to stay with big league team.

10/17/13: Things may not be as dire in Calgary as originally feared. Through four games, the Flames have picked up six out of a possible eight points. Even the games they did not win in regulation could have been wins. They held a 3-0 lead on the Capitals but lost 5-4 in a shoot out. They also blew a 3-1 lead over the Vancouver Canucks, again losing 5-4 (but in overtime). Calgary was picked to finish last by many experts as they rebuild. But the hot start may start giving Flames' fans some hope that they are closer than anyone realized.

10/10/13: The Calgary Flames used one of their three first round picks on forward Sean Monahan (6th pick overall) and he is showing the Flames' fans why they should be happy that Colorado did not accept the Flames' offer of all three of their picks for the number one overall selection. Through three games, he has two goals and an assist, with a point in each game. Monahan can play nine games with the Flames before the team has to decide whether to keep him or send him back to the OHL. With the way he is playing, it looks like he may make the big club full time.

10/3/13: Calgary brought in long-time NHL man Brian Burke as the Director of Hockey Operations to revive the franchise. The Flames made a fatal mistake a few years back by holding on to their core that got them one goal away from winning the Stanley Cup - in 2004. By holding on to these players, they bloated their salary obligations and got old without much development of young talent. Now the team has hit the reset button and looks committed to rebuilding - as evidenced by keeping all three of their first round picks in 2013 draft.

9/26/13: The Calgary Flames have had some great captains in their history including Larry McDonald and Jerome Iginla. When the Flames traded Iginla late last season, it left a void at leadership. The Flames this past week announced the 19th captain in their franchise history and it is Mark Giordano. Giordano is the definition of a guy who worked his way into the league. He was invited as an undrafted free agent to training camp by the Flames in 2004. He spent a few years with the Flames AHL affiliate and finally broke into the league in the 2007-08 season. In 355 games he has 41 goals and 109 assists. No he is not the best player on the team, but teams need leadership.

9/19/13: It does not matter what sport is being discussed - whether it is the NBA , NFL, soccer, or women's college volleyball - 'experts' are going to put out predictions on where each team will end the season. It is no different in the NHL. Many have picked Calgary to finish in last place this season as they begin a rebuilding process (that is about five years too late). New Flames winger TJ Galiardi is not happy about that and intends to prove the pundits and the populous wrong. The season starts in just a few weeks, and Galiardi will have his chance to prove them (us) wrong.

9/12/13: The Calgary Flames announce the hiring of Brian Burke as the president of hockey operations. There has been a lot of negative opinions about this hire - and it is probably not good news (in the long term) for general manager Jay Feester - but Burke is NHL royalty. The Flames need to rebuild and Burke likely understands that this is not an overnight process. Simply plugging in high priced veterans is not sustainable. Burke will likely continue the process of scrapping the team to rebuild it. He is a solid hockey guy and in the long term will be good for the Calgary Flames.

9/4/13: While optimism may not be abounding in Calgary for the upcoming season, there is still plenty to root for. For one thing, the team has finally admitted to itself that they do not have the roster to consistently compete in the Western Conference and is now committed to rebuilding the franchise. The run to the Stanley Cup in 2004 was fantastic, but almost a decade ago. That means that a new crop of talent is ripe for development and support. One major role that has yet to be defined is who will be the next captain. Jerome Iginla wore that title well for years, but now it is time for the next generation of Flames to step up and carry the torch.

8/29/13: Even though the Flames would not admit it until recently, everyone who follows hockey knows that they are rebuilding. The Flames were savvy enough last season to trade away high priced fixtures like Jerome Iginla and Jay Boumeester, and they were compensated with first round draft picks. The team is a few years away from seeing those new guys on the ice, but at least they are making the needed moves to reduce salary and develop from within. Do not expect the Flames to be a playoff contender this coming season, but their future looks brighter now than it did six months ago.

8/22/13: Training camp is not next week or the week after, so teams still have time. However, the Flames are in a transition year. The front office finally admitted to themselves that they do not have the talent to compete in the West, so they started shipping off veterans at the trade deadline. Gone is Jerome Iginla, the captain for so many years, as well as their best defenseman in Jay Boumeester. So the Flames are looking for leadership on the team. Options for the new captain include Mark Giordano, Curtis Glencross, and Mike Cammalleri. Who ever it is must understand that this is redeveloping team that needs all the help it can get.

8/15/13: Flames defenseman T.J. Brodie was a major beneficiary of the trade that sent Jay Boumeester to St. Louis at the trade deadline. His playing time jumped to over 23 minutes per game. He is trying to prove that he is capable of being a top four blue liner, and the Flames are ready for him to show it as well. The team gave him a two year, $4.25 million deal - kind a 'show me' contract to prove his worth. If he continues to improve as he has done every year thus far, then he will be in line for a far more lucrative deal when this one expires.

8/8/13: It has been a long time since the Calgary Flames last made the playoffs, it was back in 2009 for those keeping track. Since then, the team aged considerably but refused to go into rebuild mode until now. The Flames traded away Jerome Iginla, the face of the franchise as well as their best defenseman in Jay Boumeester. Additionally, longtime goalie Miikka Kiprusov. Now the challenge is to replace those stars with players to fill the void. The team got some good picks from their trades, but it does look like it will take a while for the team to come together and compete in the Western Conference.

7/25/13: The Flames are going to try to go 'old school' with at least one of their prospects. The team signed second round pick defenseman Patrick Sieloff to a three year entry level deal. Sieloff is 6'1 and 200 pounds and is known as a very physical defender. He probably will not put up too many points, but his job is to keep people from scoring. Sieloff should be at training camp, but probably will not be on the NHL roster this season. He is best known so far for being on Team USA during their 2013 World Junior Championships run to the tournament gold medal.

7/4/13: The Flames reportedly tried to pry the first overall pick from the Colorado Avalanche, even offering all three of their first round picks (#'s 6, 22, 28). Colorado did not budge (inexplicably), but GM Jay Feester is pleased with his first round haul. The Flames added three players in their top 13, so that has to be a good sign. Calgary took Sean Monohan with the sixth overall pick, and added Emile Poirer and Morgan Kilmchuk with numbers 22 and 28, respectively. The Flames have finally faced the fact that they are rebuilding, and are actually lucky that the Avs refused their offer (if those reports are true).

6/27/13: Lost in the NBA finals, the Stanley Cup, and the Aaron Hernandez situation is that Calgary is suffering from major floods. The water level has risen so high that the Saddledome (home of the Calgary Flames) is filled with water to about the tenth row. That means that the locker rooms, playing surface, equipment facilities, and even some seats are submerged with water. There may even be damage to the Jumbotron. Let's hope that everyone is safe and can get back to their normal lives soon, and that some attention will be given to this terrible disaster.

6/20/13: Calgary finally admitted what the rest of the world has known for months…the team is in a rebuilding mode. The Flames hold three first round picks. Their own #6 pick. The #22 pick from the St. Louis Blues (from the Jay Boumeester trade). And finally, the #28 pick (from the Jerome Iginla trade). They have reportedly offered all three picks to the Colorado Avalanche for the first overall pick in the draft. That pick, widely assumed to be Seth Jones, is not something that the Avs are looking at parting with right now. While having the #1 overall pick is nice, it seems that having three first rounders is better. But maybe not recognizing that is why these are two of the worst teams in the league.

4/4/13: Calgary knows they are out of the playoffs. That is what happens when you let a team get old and try to keep everyone around - or at least replace the defectors with high priced free agents. Early in the week, they traded franchise icon Jerome Iginla to Pittsburgh. Iginla apparently preferred the Penguins over the Bruins, and he will have a chance to win the Cup. The Flames also traded their best defense man, Jay Bouwmeester to St. Louis for some high draft picks, including a first rounder in the June draft. The Blues need a left handed D that can score.

3/28/13: The NHL trade deadline is around the corner, so it getting time to identify the buyers and sellers. Calgary, living up to everyone's expectations of nothing, will be a seller this year. The problem is that they really only have one major asset, and that is Jerome Iginla. Iginla has been the captain and face of the franchise for at least a decade now, and it does not seem right to watch him finish his career elsewhere. The rumor mill has it that Boston is the most likely destination, but Pittsburgh, Chicago, and the L.A. Kings also have interest. Iginla may draw a first round pick, a signed top prospect and a secondary prospect.

2/28/13: Calgary is struggling, to the surprise of no one that follows the NHL. The Flames are 7-7-3, good for only 17 points in the hyper competitive Western Conference. Calgary does not seem to have any identity this year. They have several veterans who were core players when they were a stronger team, but have a good deal of youth and retreads as well. The team has played much better over the past few weeks, but needs to develop a consistent way to put the puck in the net if they are to make the playoffs this year.

2/21/13: Calgary is a bit of an enigma. The team made it to the Stanley Cup Finals not too many years ago, and seems to have stopped progressing since then. The talented team aged quickly. Rather than blow up the roster and bring in talented youths (like arch rival Edmonton) , the Flames are trying to patch holes. They admit that they are not a strong defensive team and prefer to simply outscore their opponents. They believe that the fans will come support a losing team as long as they are entertaining. They are probably right about that, but the Flames only have 4 wins this season, making the Alberta winter that much longer.

11/29/12: Calgary is a hockey-mad city, and when there is no Flames hockey, then the fans have to turn to the minors and juniors to get their fix. The Abbsord Heat just completed a 12 game road trip, culminating with overtime for the last three games. In the junior leagues, several Flames prospects are standing out. Among them are defensive prospect Tyler Wotherspoon of the Portland Winterhawks, who has two goals and 17 points in 19 games, and leads the team with a +24 rating. Developing these young players are necessary for the Flames long-term viability, so the lockout is givng exposure to developing players.

11/22/12: Should there be a season, the Calgary Flames are expected to finish middle to lower part of the standings. The team has an aging core and has not done much to acquire and develop prospects. At least on paper. The Flames minor league affiliate, the Abbsford Heat of the AHL, is dominating the league. They are two games up on the Toronto Marlies and recently set the record for the two quickest short-handed goals in history. This all bodes well for the Flames, as maybe their prospects and developmental system are not nearly as bad as many would like to believe.

11/15/12: The Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs both took the unprecedented step of providing financial assistance to Team Alberta and the Toronto Furies, respectively, of the Canadian Womens Hockey League. The Flames commitment includes $20,000 per year for the next four years to assist with travel, equipment, and general costs. Team Alberta will also change their team colors from black and gold to the Flames' red and gold. There will also be a name the team contest, though the squad is unofficially known as the Honeybadgers (Honeybadger don't care!). Finally, the women's teams will benefit from exposure through the NHL franchises, which will hopefully allow the league to expand.

11/8/12: Former Flames Star Joey Mullen had some great things to say about the team and the City, citing that he enjoys his trips back. Today, Mullen is an assistant coach with Philadelphia flyers, but a couple of decades ago he was helping the Flames with the Stanley Cup. He won three Cups in his career and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy twice (both with Calgary). He was a great scorer, tallying 38 points for Calgary in his first 16 game the season he was traded by the Blues. So, while he is no longer in the organization, he still considers himself part of the Flames Family.

11/1/12: Calgary is not known these days for developing prospects and nurturing their talent over a long period of time until they are solid NHL players. The current roster is littered with over-priced veterans and retread players, and most have the Flames finishing fairly low in the standings. But two young prospects from the 2012 draft are beginning to impress the fanbase. Forward Mark Jankowski (first round pick) and goaltender Jon Gillies (third round pack) are starting at Providence College. If both develop properly (a big IF), then they may be in Calgary within a couple of years.

10/18/12: With a roster filled with an aging core, the Flames have consciously avoided rebuilding mode with the hopes that their veterans will be able to turn back the clock and their free agent acquisitions will offer significant contributions. This is in stark contrast to thier cross-providence rivals in Edmonton, who decided a few years ago to gut their roster and start fresh. While the Flames trail the Oilers in young gun depth, they do have a very exciting prospect named Sven Baertschi. Baertschi tallied three goals in five games in the NHL last season and has all the offensive talent in the world. He is considered small at 5'10, but that should not stop him from being a strong contributor once he gets a full time opportunity.

10/4/12: The NHL lockout may affect the Calgary Flames more than any other team. The Flames were already an aging team, and their roster (particularly their defensemen) are beset with outlandish contracts complete with No Trade Clauses. Rather than trying to go young and rebuild, the Flames made the conscious decsion to move forward with their high-priced veterans, even though they have missed the playoffs in recent years. Should the lockout drag on, Calgary will be in the unenviable situation of having an old, expensive team that does not have the talent to compete with a condensed schedule.

8/16/12: Its an unofficial event to be sure, but for all Blue Jackets fans in Columbus this weekend comes Cannonfest. The third installment of this fan organized gala hopes to life the spirit of Columbus supports who have just witnessed the departure of the best player in franchise history, a season in which they were easily the worst team in the league, and the ongoing contentious bickering of the new CBA negotiations which threatens to stop professional hockey in the coming season. Cannonfest will also be doing some good deeds, raising money for the Blue Jackets Foundation which supports childrens inititiaves.

8/2/12: Mark Jankowski elected to attend Providence College this fall, rather than spending a year in the United States Hockey League with the Debuque Fighting States. Jankowski is the answer to the trivia question of "who was the first scholastic player selected in the NHL draft in 2012?", and has years of development ahead of him before being ready for the NHL. some may consider the Flames a longshot to retain his rights over the next few years, especially how Anaheim lost the rights to Justin Schultz. Providence plays in the ultra-competitive Hockey East league, but has not made the playoffs since 2001.

7/26/12: The stockpiling of defensemen in Calgary may be hitting the Flames soon. Calgary now has eight blueliners on the roster, but all are one-way contracts, which can be restrictive to demoting to the minors. Additionally, most of the players would have to pass through waivers before an assignment to the minors, and teams are always looking for good defensemen. A trade may be in order in the near future, with Jay Baumeester, Anton Babchuk, and Derick Smith all as possible pieces. The Flames seem to have painted themselves into a corner, and now need to figure out how to deal with their defensive surplus.

5/22/12: Fans always hold their breaths when a key member of their organization goes to the arch-enemy, and so it may be with Calgary and former head coach Brent Sutter. The Edmonton Oilers opted to not renew the contract of head coach Tom Renny, and there is much speculation that Sutter will be offered and accept that job. Edmonton is primed to jump to the next level after years of drafting (and playing) high talented players, and they have the #1 overall pick in this year's draft too. Flames fans must feel some apprehension here, knowing they may have to watch their former coach achieve greatness that has eluded them for several seasons.

5/16/12: Much of Calgary's core is homegrown talent and that core enjoyed a lot of success over the years. However, that core is aging and contracts are expiring, making it tough for a small market team (particularly one in western Canada) to retain their key personnel. talent development choices and economic realities are hitting the Flames, therefore not everyone will be back. In time, Calgary will replenish itself, but will continue to struggle for some time. The Flames first need to hire a new coach to replace Brent Sutter, but they may be waiting for the playoffs to finish to pursue some high-profile assistants.

5/11/12: The Flames are likely to start a massive rebuilding project in the coming season, adding frustration to fans who have watched the team miss the playoffs for the past three seasons. As they say, its always darkest before the dawn. The Flames were hamstrung with bloated contracts and no-trade clauses last season, and could not make many moves last offseason. So they went to battle with an aging and underperforming team. The good news is that many of those contracts have expired and cap-space is getting free. This will allow Calgary to bring in some youth and redevelop itself back into a winner.

5/3/12: Calgary fans are in the curious position are watching former Flames Coach Darryl Sutter lead the L.A. Kings to the second round of the playoffs, while simultanously saying goodbye to brother Brent Sutter as head coach. Darryl Sutter will always be remembered in Calgary, as he took the team to Game 7 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals (losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning). Jerome Iginla, the long-time face of the franchise and future Hall-of-Famer, enters a contract year next season. Iginla has professed his desire to stay with the team, and now it is Calgary's turn to ensure he finishes his career with the Flames.

4/25/12: Improving offensively should be the Flames number one goal going into the offseason. The team finished 24 out of 30 in goals, scoring only 2.4 per game. Calgary officially parted ways with coach Brent Sutter. A replacement has not been named but expect someone with an offensive background to fill the position. Jerome Ignila, long the face of the franchise, struggled in 2011-12 with only 32 goals and 67 points, leading the team in both categories. Krys Kolonos may provide some help next season. He was named AHL Player of the Month for March and spent some time with the Flames late in the season.

4/18/12: Brent Sutter was hired as coach prior to the 2009-10 season, joining brothers Brian, Darryl, and Duane in the coaching ranks. Coincidentally, The Flames have not qualified for the playoffs since the 2008-09 season, despite accumulating at least 90 points each season. The Flames and Brent Sutter "mutally agreed" to relieve Sutter of his coaching duties this past week, and are also allowing Assistant Coach Dave Lowry's contract to expire without renewal. Replacement possibilities include Dallas Eakins, Rangers assistant Mike Sullivan, and former Flames captain Bob Boughner. Sutter, meanwhile, is currently working on Team Canada roster for the World Championships in Sweeden next month.

Calgary Flames Tickets -Team History

Calgary Flames tickets allow fans the opportunity to see one of the rising franchises in the NHL's Western Conference. Established in 1972, the Calgary Flames were originally based in Atlanta, Georgia before making the move to Canada in 1980. The Flames play their games at Scotiabank Saddledome and have called the venue home since 1983. Watch as the Flames continue to build their legacy and work to bring a second Stanley Cup to Calgary!

Calgary Flames Tickets -Season Info

The Calgary Flames are a franchise perennially in a position to win the Stanley Cup. The Flames have made it to the Western Conference Quarterfinals four of the past five years and are always well positioned for success. With stars like Jay Bouwmeester, Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff, the Flames have all the makings of a playoff contender.

Calgary Flames Tickets -Ticket Information

Calgary Flames tickets ensure that fans see the Flames playing top contenders throughout the entire NHL season. The Flames have a great shot at winning the Northwest Division in 2011. With matchups against great teams like the Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche and non-divisional meetings with Sidney Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins, the Flames are sure to be tested all season long. Grab your Flames tickets now and don't miss the action!

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